DeMario (Pop) Douglas’ Future

[Clonamery]

I'm talking about the NFL and specifically the Patriots.

Of the returning WRs, he's our third-leading WR from last year with Diggs gone, after Hollins and Boutte.

And seeing how a lot of fans think we should cut Hollins (46 catches) and trade Boutte (33 catches) he'd be our TOP returning WR with both of them gone.

I understand that many were disappointed that we only made it to the SB last year and didn't win - making 2025 a failure and thus they want to get rid of ALL our WRs from last year, including Diggs, Douglas, Hollins, and Boutte.

Those same fans seem to think that Chism is the WR of the future, because of his 3 catches.

Douglas had 10x the number of catches of Chism but Douglas is still viewed as a Pee Wee football league player while Chism is bound for Canton.

You can't make this stuff up!

No you can't.

 

[DC Patriots]

He’s got good size at 6’1” and he has shown the ability to shake and bake CB’s. He’s played slot in GB, so he could do it in NE. The two games you guys should check out are the 2023 Wildcard game against the Cowboys and the 2023 Divisional game against the 49ers. He had two straight games running circles around DB’s and on causing some serious problems for the defenses. Many thought that was his coming out party.

Bourne was also a larger slot guy in SF and could’ve played that in NE.

Thank you. Exactly the type of information I was looking for

 

[rkarp1]

No you can't.

I'm talking about the NFL and specifically the Patriots.

Of the returning WRs, he's our third-leading WR from last year with Diggs gone, after Hollins and Boutte.

And seeing how a lot of fans think we should cut Hollins (46 catches) and trade Boutte (33 catches) he'd be our TOP returning WR with both of them gone.

I understand that many were disappointed that we only made it to the SB last year and didn't win - making 2025 a failure and thus they want to get rid of ALL our WRs from last year, including Diggs, Douglas, Hollins, and Boutte.

Those same fans seem to think that Chism is the WR of the future, because of his 3 catches.

Douglas had 10x the number of catches of Chism but Douglas is still viewed as a Pee Wee football league player while Chism is bound for Canton.

You can't make this stuff up!

if Pop is the 3rd leading WR returning, and the team signed two ahead of him, that makes him #5, no?
I am a big Pop fan, but he is a FA after the year. he does not play any ST groups. the team can't keep them all (can they?)
if someone offers for Pop, I would have to listen

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

if Pop is the 3rd leading WR returning, and the team signed two ahead of him, that makes him #5, no?
I am a big Pop fan, but he is a FA after the year. he does not play any ST groups. the team can't keep them all (can they?)
if someone offers for Pop, I would have to listen

It would seem we will be carrying 6 WRs.
Pop is one of our 6 best.
What would you get in return, at the very best a 6th?
Not worth it, keep him, we have legit SB hopes.
There will be injuries and Pop will have big plays that help the team win.

 

[rkarp1]

It would seem we will be carrying 6 WRs.
Pop is one of our 6 best.
What would you get in return, at the very best a 6th?
Not worth it, keep him, we have legit SB hopes.
There will be injuries and Pop will have big plays that help the team win.

I assume if they keep 6, Pop is inactive most games (unless injury as you say)

 

[JoeSixPat]

if Pop is the 3rd leading WR returning, and the team signed two ahead of him, that makes him #5, no?
I am a big Pop fan, but he is a FA after the year. he does not play any ST groups. the team can't keep them all (can they?)
if someone offers for Pop, I would have to listen

Sure - I'd go along with that. And if they cut Hollins and trade Boutte like some advocate, he'd be our #3, who some want to trade as well.

I'm hoping Dobbs gets nearly as many targets as Brown does, as I think he'll be used by Josh in many ways, so overall I think we have a stronger WR corps this year than last.

But not even counting Diggs, there are fans here who have advocated for getting rid of everyone else, via trade or cut, to find a place for a guy like Chism, and I just don't get it.

Hollins, Boutte, and Douglas totaled 111 passes, and that's equated to Pee Wee football by some, but I look at those catches as vital to our success last year, especially in the way that they spread the field and got good use out of nearly all their WRs (with the exception of Chism).

I'm just not so keen on cutting ties with any of them ideally.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I assume if they keep 6, Pop is inactive most games (unless injury as you say)

Even if he was inactive for spells, there will be games he is active and will make plays that help us win this year, a year where we have a really tough schedule and will much more likely than not be in a dogfight for the division until the bitter end.
Is a 6th rd pick really worth moving him?
I don't think so, but I've been wrong before.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

to find a place for a guy like Chism, and I just don't get it.

. . . and got good use out of nearly all their WRs (with the exception of Chism).

Those of us who want to keep Chism see him as filling the Edelman/Welker slot WR role. In particular, he has more lateral quickness than anyone else on the team, and seems to have a strong ability to get to his spot (e.g., last year there was one drill where the media asked if Dobbs and Wooldridge were going to throw to anyone besides Chism, because they kept going back to him; on Monday he had 7 catches in team drills).

And as far as getting stuff out of Chism, the only reason they didn't get much out of him is that they didn't use him much at WR. He was credited as a good blocker while on the field, and he averaged almost 25 YPC on his four catches [including postseason].

 

[PatsFan2]

The Belichick and Mayo years should not be counted against these guys.

Effectively, they've had 1 year in a bonafide system with a QB who was not butt.

We've watched players like Welker and Edelman take several years to mature. I don't want to let guys like this loose.

You hit the nail on the head...both Pop and Boutte were held back by those two regimes. One that was coming to a miserable end: and the other that should have Never Started.

 

[rkarp1]

Even if he was inactive for spells, there will be games he is active and will make plays that help us win this year, a year where we have a really tough schedule and will much more likely than not be in a dogfight for the division until the bitter end.
Is a 6th rd pick really worth moving him?
I don't think so, but I've been wrong before.

similar to Boutte, it is a 2 way street
if Pop is inactive on some game days, going into his free agent season, think he will want to stay?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

similar to Boutte, it is a 2 way street
if Pop is inactive on some game days, going into his free agent season, think he will want to stay?

Who knows, there could be more openings in the WR next year.
Hollins and Boutte could both be gone next year, opening up Pop for more playing time.
But even if he moves on next year, I would rather keep him this year and get nothing next year vs trading him for a 6th rd pick.
We have 4 6th rd picks already, do we really need another?
At that point in the draft Teams draft boards are vastly different. Very good chance a guy you have rated in the 6th rd goes undrafted.

 

[mgteich]

similar to Boutte, it is a 2 way street
if Pop is inactive on some game days, going into his free agent season, think he will want to stay?

I don’t think he will have an attitude issue this year.

 

[rkarp1]

I don’t think he will have an attitude issue this year.

just an opinion...
if you put 3/$15m on the table today to extend Pop he would agree to it

 

[mgteich]

just an opinion...
if you put 3/$15m on the table today to extend Pop he would agree to it

If so, it should be done.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

just an opinion...
if you put 3/$15m on the table today to extend Pop he would agree to it

interesting.
What's the avg salary of a 3rd WR?
not saying he is that, but can't imagine his agent thinks he's more than that.
If $5M is close to #3 money, I would think he would take it.

 

[PatsFan2]

just an opinion...
if you put 3/$15m on the table today to extend Pop he would agree to it

Who are you the accountant for ENRON?? What if Pop have a Parker Washington type year from the Slot?? He wouldn't need an Agent for the deal you are suggesting. Pop is having a great Camp by all accounts it could all come together for him. With AJB and Doubs drawing coverage Pop or our TE's should be open.

 

[rkarp1]

Who are you the accountant for ENRON?? What if Pop have a Parker Washington type year from the Slot?? He wouldn't need a Agent for the deal you suggested. Pop is having a great Camp by all accounts it could all come together for him. With AJB and Doubs drawing coverage Pop or our TE's should be open.

anything is possible, but if all are healthy, Brown will get triple digit targets and Henry will get 70+
Stevenson/Henderson will get 50+
Maye will run the ball 35+ times
Pop, Boutte, Hollins, Doubs, Williams will fall into that 40-55 targeted group
Raridon will get 20-30 targets

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

No I don’t want to trade any of them. If we keep Pop and Boutte and they leave next year then we will get some comp pics that are probably what we would get if we traded them. We finally have a good WR room. Why do we want to trade everybody. Injuries at that position is common, Next man up will be a capable player. I not a Chism lover. I like him but he has a lot to be desired.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

No I don’t want to trade any of them. If we keep Pop and Boutte and they leave next year then we will get some comp pics that are probably what we would get if we traded them. We finally have a good WR room. Why do we want to trade everybody. Injuries at that position is common, Next man up will be a capable player. I not a Chism lover. I like him but he has a lot to be desired.

Concur for the most part.
I want to keep as many as we can and maximize THIS year.
That said, chances are incredibly slim we would have more than 6 make the roster.
Brown
Doubs
Williams
Pop
Hollins
Those 5 should be locks
So that leaves
Boutte
Chism
DeG

If Boutte stays he will be 6, so I would expect Chism and DeG to be on the PS.
If Boutte goes, Chism or DeG would be #6.
Both those guys are having good camps, Chism really looks to have progressed from the clips I've seen and DeG has really nice size/speed combo.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Concur for the most part.
I want to keep as many as we can and maximize THIS year.
That said, chances are incredibly slim we would have more than 6 make the roster.
Brown
Doubs
Williams
Pop
Hollins
Those 5 should be locks
So that leaves
Boutte
Chism
DeG

If Boutte stays he will be 6, so I would expect Chism and DeG to be on the PS.
If Boutte goes, Chism or DeG would be #6.
Both those guys are having good camps, Chism really looks to have progressed from the clips I've seen and DeG has really nice size/speed combo.

I love the story behind Chism. I hope he develops. Just not ready to put him ahead of Pop. DeG is another good story with a bit more speed and height than Chism. Definately a PS candidate. It is a good problem to have.
As I stated WR always seems to have injury problems throughout the year. I would feel secure with wth AJ, Doubs, Pop, Boutte, Williams and Hollins. We also have a good backup in DeVito. Raridon coming on to help out Henry. So our passing game is solid. Can’t say we have been able to say that in a long time.